Renaissance

Renaissance(French, rebirth) The intellectual and artistic flowering that began in Italy in the 14th century, culminated there in the 16th century, and greatly influenced other parts of Europe. The notion of a rebirth refers to a revival of the values of the classical world. The idea was brilliantly characterized by Alberti, himself an architect, painter, scientist, poet, and mathematician, and in Leonardo da Vinci. Brunelleschi is considered the first Renaissance architect; from his interest …

…Gama, and Magellan. These in turn led to advances in geography and cartography and the colonization of new lands. The astronomers Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo proposed new theories about the movement of the planets, and advances were made in biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine. The Flemish anatomist Vesalius wrote De humani corporis fabrica (1543), an influential anatomical treatise. The new spirit of enquiry also affected perception of the Church and paved the way for reform.